Trolley wheel and harp.



E., L. HAGER. TROLLEY WHBBLAND HAR1 I APPLIGATION FILED 00T.3,190.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909. z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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RLEAGBRQ TROLLEY WHEEL AND HARP.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3. 1906,

Patented 00u-.5, 1909.

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' v'mommy WHEEL. amb' HAPLP.-

i Specification of Letters Patent.

v.ip11i:aim mea october e, 190e. serial No. '337,200.

To all whom it' may concern: i

Be it known that I, FRANK L. citizen of the United States, and a resident of Waterburyin the 'county of New Haven and State o onnecticut, have invented af new andrIm roved Trolley-Wheel and Harp Therefor, o which the following is a specification. l My invention relatesto the class of de- 10 vices for conducting a current of electricity from a wire for delivery to the motor of a vehicle, such' device including asy part of the structure-a rotating part, and the object of m invention is to provide a trolley wheel w ich may be used for a maximum length of time and one inwhich injury to overhead construction shall be lessened; and a further object of the invention is to provide a de-- l v1ce having improved conducting means for the electric current. A form of device in the use of which these objects may be at tained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-` Figure 1 is a view inv central section of al ltrolley Wheel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 -is a side lview of the same.. Fig. 3 is an edge view." Fig. '4 is a view in lengthwise central section through the trolley' harp. .l Fig. 5 is a side view of .the same with 1n improved wheel therein. Fig. 6 is a bottom view, the trolley wheel being removed. Fig.4 7 is a top view partially broken away to show construction. In the accompanying drawings the numeral 10 denotes luy-improved trolley wheel hav# ing a'central opening 11 for the reception vof the spindle upon which the wheel turns. his opening is formed in the hub 12, or rather within a bushing located within the ub.' This bushing includes an inner member 13 andv an outer member 14 having a filling 15 of graphite or other similar matelrial located between them. A spiral groove 16 is located in the inner member, and open- 45 f ings v17 extend through. the wall of the outer member of the bushing. This general form of construction of bearing is old in prior devices. In these prior devices, however, an opening has been formed through the hub of the wheel in which has been secured a device forintroduction of the oil from the outside. g

In carrying out my invention I rovide a chamber 20 preferably consisting o a grooveV extending about the inne;` surface of the hub. When the bushing is inserted in place EAGER, a

' parallel walls this chamber is entirely'closed. plastic lubricant may; be deposited in this chamber' -before the bushing' k'nel'of a' width practically equal to the diameterothe wire to extend downward from Patented Oct. 5,1909. I

ee this lubricant will be'melted or devices the what was originally the bottomA of this groove. When this channel is worn to but a short distance the action of the wheel in' traveling around a curve causes the wire to cramped within this comparatively narrow channel.

wheel caused by this groove also permits contact of the hangers of the overhead work with the trolley wheel, much to the injury of the former. In devising my improved wheel I have provided means whereby lthe wear upon the Wheel will produce a channel .of considerable width which will prevent cramping of the trolley wire as the wheel The raising of the trolley 8'0 passes a curve and also the contact with' the overhead hangers. 1

In carrying out my invention the wheel is cast of any usual and proper metal, having yformed thereon the hub 12 and a web 21 maybe located between the hub and the rim Openings 23 maybe formed in the web for the purpose of securing lightness.' A groove 24 is vformed lin the rim, anges 25 forming the groove to a large fianges are located at such dista-nce apart that a groove of a dimension considerably in excess of that of the diameter of the tro1- ley wire is provided. groove are parallel, or practically so, for the eater part of the depth of I he bottom of the groove is formed by inclined parts 26 sloping downward to a channel 27. The sloping parts 26 do not deviate greatly from aline at right-angles to the of the groove, but are so located as to lead a wire therefrom tothe channel 27, when it shall become displaced from the latter. The channel 27 ably formed on the arc of a circle somewhat is pr'eferthe groove. i

`. and'this effect will be produced 1n the ,con-

tinilal wear, the'wire, under these circumstances having a certain freedom of movel ment'whereby it may for the time being escape from the channel 27. This move-v lment will wear the'edges of the channel 27, the effect of which'will be to maintain the tion of the trolley harp which also includes a v is secured. The base 32 has ears 34 within which the'pinxB for pivotally uniting the carrier' tothe hase' is located. y' In order to secure lightness two 'ears Aare properly prowidth of the channel as it increases in depth.

v"The wheel 10l is mounted in ayielding carlY rier-.includ'ing side parts 30 rigidly united by a' cross-piece 3 1, this carrier forming a porbase piece 32 secured'to the trolley -pole In the form shown anpening' is made'in the base into which 'the trolley pole projects and vided. 5 A lip 3G forms a portion of the base and' a spring engaging lug 37 projects from) this lip. "A similar lip engaging lug 38 pro jects from theerossepiece 31, and a spring 39 is held in place by these lugs, the spring, by

` pressure upon the carrier, tending to hold the. latter at the opposite limit of its play from that Vshown lin Figs. 4 and 5 ofthe drawings, the spring being under compression as shown in these views. The pin 35, forming the means of connection between the carrier and `the base of th'e harp, will make avpoor ponductor for the current of electricity between the parts, one of which is moya-bly supported with respect to the other,

this poor conductivity depending partially upon the imperfect lit between the pin and its bearingsfand also b reason of the coating of oil, rust or the like which is liable to accumulate o n the pin. In order to obtain good conductivity between the trolley wheel 10 and the pole 33 I 'provide' the contacts40. These contacts have an offsetportion 41 located between its i ends, this offset portion constituting a spring seat, forming a spring for holding the ends of the contact securely against the trolley Y wheel 10 andalso against the ears 34 on the base of the harp, thus maintaining a secure cont-act. The turning of the trolley wheel will maintain the parts clean and bright at this point'of contact, andthe movement of 'the 'carrieronlits pivot .will maintain the parts 'clean and'bright at'the point of con-` tact between thecarrier'and spring and also between the ears 34 and spring', the con tact being freely movable at alll points of pressure.

It will be noted, as plainly shown in Figs. 4 and 7, that the ends of each of the contacts 40 are of exactly the same shape, the grooves in the ends being of the same'size and each4 end being 'offset to the same extent as the opposite end. This provides a construction whereby the contact may bereversed for end-as will be readily apparent from an inspeetion of said Figs. 4 and 7 While I have shown and described herein the inclined part 26 of the groove extending for a short distance in a straight line, T do not limit myself to this exact structure of y the bottom of said groove, as such bottom may be formed other than on s traightlines and yet bewithill the scope and intent of the invention, A

WhatI claimas my invention and desire to secure by Letters VPatent is l. A. trolley ywheel includinga groove with a bottom located at an angle to and sloping slightly toward the center of the wheel from said side walls, the part' of the rim containing the groovebeing formed in a'single piece, said sloping bottomv tere nnnatingin a channel arranged to provide an angle between said channel and th'e sloping bottom.

2. A trolley wlleeldnclllding a hub and a.

rim, 'thelatter having a groove therein formed by flanges' disposed practically hub and a- .rnn connected therewith, saldrlm havlng aY parallel to each other, the part of the rim containing the groove being formed in a,

single piece, said groove having a bottom inclined slightly inward toward the center of the wheel and terminating in a 'channel formed to produce an angle between said channel and the sloping side walls.

3. A trolley wheel including a hub and av ,rim connected therewith, said rim having a groove, the part of the rim containing the groove being formed in a single piece, said groove having a bottom located at an angle .toa'nd sloping slightly toward the center of the wheel from the side walls, and with a channel located between the bottom portions of the groove.

'4. a trolley wheel including 'a hub' and a l :rim connected therewith, said rim havingv a groove including side parts located 'practically parallel each with the other and formed of a single piece, and a bottom sloping but slightly toward the center of the' wheel. said bottom terminating ina channel the sides of -which are steeper than the bottom of said groove.

- 5. A'hnb, a rim, a web connecting said'rim and hub, said web having openings laterally therethrough and arranged to provide a rib on the under surface of the rim, said rib reinforcing a groove in the rim with a channel located opposite Said rib and a bottom Wall inclined slightly outward from the center of the wheel in opposite directions from said channel, and side parts located at an angle to the sloping bottom parts, the part of the rim containing the channel being formed in .e single piece.

C. A base for a trolley harp, al carrier mounted on said base and movably secured thereto, a trolley Wheel mounted in the carrier, and a spring contact extending from Said trolley wheel to the base and in close movable contact with each of said parts.

l. A base for a trolley harp, a carrier movably secured to the base, a trolley.` wheel mounted in the carrier, and a Contact formed topress closely' against the trolley wheel, the carrier, and the base, and in movable contact with aplural number of said parts.

S. A base for a trolley harp having ears projecting therefrom, a carrier with side parte located outside of said ears, atrolley wheel mounted in the carrier, and contacts pressing closely against said wheel, the side parts of the carrier and said ears.

9. A base for a trolley harp, said base having ears, a pin mounted in said ears, a.

carrier including side parts mounted on said pin, a trolley wheel mounted in said carrier, 'and a contact pressing closely against the side of said wheel, side parts and ears. v

l0. A base for a trolley harp, said base having ears, a pin mounted in said ears, a carrier having side parts supported on said nin, a trolley wheel mounted in said cartrolley wheel and carrier.

rer, and a Contact having forked ends en- A gaging the trolley Wheel and carrier pin and 11. A base for a trolley harp,.a carrier I pivotally mounted on said base, Wheel mounted'in the carrier, and contact extending from said trolley Whee tothe base and in movable contact with each of said parts.

12. A base for a trolley harp, 4a carrier pivotally mounted on said base, a trolley wheel mounted in the carrier, and a sprin contact extending from said trolley wheel to the base and held by the pivots of the a trolley 13. A base for a trolley harp, a. carrier mounted onl the base and movably connected therewith, a trolley wheel mounted in the carrier, and a spring-contact extending between the Wheel and base, reversible end for end;

14. A base for a trolley harp, a carrier mounted on said base and movably connected therewith, a trolley wheel mounted on the carrier, and a contact extending between the trolley' wheel and base and in close contact with each of said parts, said contact being reversible end for end with either end arrangedto securely engage against the trol`- ley wheel or base.

FRANK L. EAGER.

Witnesses:

JOHN STANFIELD, THos. F. LAwLoR.

a spring l 55. said contact being 

